Stressor-induced Neurochemical Changes: Genetic & Ontogenetic Factors
Communication may occur between the immune and central nervous system, and cytokines (signaling molecules of the immune system) may act as messengers (immunotransmitters) in this respect. The immune system may act like a sensory organ informing the brain of antigenic challenge, and given the nature of the neurochemical changes elicited by cytokines, immune activation may be interpreted by the CNS as a stressor. It has been our contention that the immune system may be part of a regulatory loop that, by virtue of its effects on CNS functioning, might contribute to the symptoms of behavioral pathologies, including mood and anxiety-related disorders, and may contribute to cognitive disturbances frequently seen during immunotherapy in cancer patients.
We have been exploring how and to what extent early life adverse experiences (in both human and animal studies) may have long-term repercussions on inflammatory processes, and whether such effects interact with genetic factors in determining the evolution of later behavioral pathologies.